Table 2

 Exposure to asbestos and MMVF among cases and controls in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the UK respectively

Exposure statusAsbestos (all types)Asbestos (chrysotile only)Man-made vitreous fibres (glass and mineral wool)Ceramic fibres only*
Cases (%)Controls (%)Cases (%)Controls (%)Cases (%)Controls (%)Cases (%)Controls (%)
*Excludes subjects exposed to mixed synthetic fibres.
†Never exposed to any type of asbestos or synthetic fibres, respectively.
Never exposed CEE†1824 (88.7)1908 (88.6)1824 (94.9)1908 (94.1)1954 (95.6)2070 (96.6)1954 (99.6)2070 (99.8)
Ever exposed CEE233 (11.3)246 (11.4)99 (5.1)120 (5.9)91 (4.4)73 (3.4)7 (0.4)5 (0.2)
Never exposed UK†64 (43.2)95 (62.9)64 (78.0)95 (88.8)124 (83.8)134 (89.3)124 (100)134 (100)
Ever exposed UK84 (56.8)56 (37.1)18 (22.0)12 (11.2)24 (16.2)16 (10.7)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Intensity of exposure CEE
    Low171 (73.4)194 (78.9)76 (76.8)98 (81.7)60 (65.9)54 (74.0)5 (71.4)3 (60.0)
    Medium50 (21.5)42 (17.1)18 (18.2)15 (12.5)26 (28.6)15 (20.5)2 (28.6)2 (40.0)
    High12 (5.2)10 (4.1)5 (5.1)7 (5.8)5 (5.5)4 (5.5)
Intensity of exposure UK
    Low49 (58.3)33 (58.9)12 (66.7)10 (83.3)13 (54.2)7 (43.8)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    Medium22 (26.2)15 (26.8)4 (22.2)1 (8.3)8 (33.3)7 (43.8)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    High13 (15.5)8 (14.3)2 (11.1)1 (8.3)3 (12.5)2 (12.5)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Frequency of exposure CEE
    1–5%112 (48.1)124 (50.4)58 (58.6)64 (53.3)51 (56.0)42 (57.5)1 (14.3)1 (20.0)
    5–30%73 (31.3)74 (30.1)26 (26.3)31 (25.8)26 (28.6)20 (27.4)3 (42.9)3 (60.0)
    >30%48 (20.6)48 (19.5)15 (15.2)25 (20.8)14 (15.4)11 (15.1)3 (42.9)1 (20.0)
Frequency of exposure UK
    1–5%45 (53.6)41 (73.2)9 (50.0)10 (83.3)12 (50.0)8 (50.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    5–30%33 (39.3)12 (21.4)7 (38.9)2 (16.7)10 (41.7)7 (43.8)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    >30%6 (7.1)3 (5.4)2 (11.1)0 (0.0)2 (8.3)1 (6.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Confidence in assessment CEE
    Possible30 (12.9)22 (8.9)11 (11.1)15 (12.5)8 (8.8)10 (13.7)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    Probable80 (34.3)98 (39.8)37 (37.4)49 (40.8)29 (31.9)23 (31.5)1 (14.3)0 (0.0)
    Certain123 (52.8)125 (50.8)50 (50.5)56 (46.7)54 (59.3)40 (54.8)6 (85.7)5 (100)
Confidence in assessment UK
    Possible0 (0.0)2 (3.6)0 (0.0)1 (8.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    Probable24 (28.6)19 (33.9)5 (27.8)4 (33.3)5 (20.8)3 (18.8)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
    Certain60 (71.4)35 (62.5)13 (72.2)7 (58.3)19 (79.2)13 (81.3)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)